Trouble, Sorrow, Need, Sickness, Or Any Other Adversity.

[Coruscating]

On 5/2/2024 at 1:05 PM, Michael37 said:

I narrowed some historical and recent causes of trouble down to these three things:

1. Unrealistic expectations.

2. Unreasonable demands.

3. Unbearable burdens.

@Michael37 You end your post asking "What's your story?" so allow me to share a 4th topic that changed my perspective in all areas of my life: Sense of entitlement.

More than a decade ago, a few things were not going well for me and I didn't know why, until I came across one of those silly lists that people share, with a title like "5 things that are preventing you from being happy". I have some prejudices against this kind of stuff, but the last topic was "Sense of entitlement" and my scornful smile was immediately humbled. Most of my issues had roots on that "sense of entitlement". And then I remembered Joseph, Daniel, Jesus(!!), the prophets, the disciples, the persecuted... and thought "Who am i?! who am i to think that i am owed even the air that I breath? Some people are in jail for being Christians, for doing what is right. Who am I, with this plate of cookies in front of me?"

On 5/2/2024 at 1:05 PM, Michael37 said:

the mistake of thinking that doing the work of ministry should be plain sailing because you have such a passion for it and have an expectation that because the Lord has called you to it everything will go smoothly.

We know what sailors say: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

[Coruscating]

On 5/3/2024 at 2:06 AM, Marathoner said:

when I find myself outside of my comfort zone, I can be a real piece of work.

On 5/3/2024 at 2:06 AM, Marathoner said:

my tongue is like a razor blade toward others who don't meet with my approval. The Lord has forgiven me of so much

@Marathoner I also deal with a similar obstacle on my character. If people start to speak without keeping up with their own thoughts, only caring about being right and even lying about what they previously stated/did, something happens to me and I stop caring about the person I have in front of me. When I enter in scrutiny mode, I put God aside, I am caustic and as you said, words can be razor blades. It has been a long process to overcome this, and I do thank God for all the times I kept silent. But sometimes, I do wish I could have the power to put someone in "their place".

The other day a situation like that arose. I wanted to make a point, some way. I wanted to find words that would have the effect I needed, without the guilt. I started as usual, going alone to my own thoughts, but then I turned to God and asked for help, "This person needs to learn something, otherwise this will keep happening. This person will knock on my door soon and I don't want to disappoint You with my words. I also don't want to be unpleasant to this person, even though I am so displeased right now."

I was listening to Praise and Harmony on Spotify, and (probably not) coincidentally I had "Generous King" on repeat:

"Generous King, You give
Out of Your fullness, showering kindness
You give, generous King
Mercies unending, love never failing
You give.

The wrath we deserved was furious
The cup that we drink is full of Love
It's all from You, Lord, it's all from You
Your Spirit You've freely given us"

My thoughts while listening: I receive so much kindness from God. How many times was I unreasonable with this Generous King, with His children? How much I received anyway. I want to share this gratitude by being generous to those around me, to those He also cares about. What evil comes to the world if I am generous even when my human nature tells me that I am on some pinnacle of reason and logic? The ground where I stand is all the love God has been giving me, I have what I need to be generous to this person.
(The issue here was, I see now, my pride, and that is why silence and a warm smile was the best solution. There are situations where we indeed need to have a voice.)

So now, when I'm on that crossroad, I start to sing this song inside my mind. It has been helpful!

Brother Marathoner, may God give you a song to play in your mind, or something else that God wills, to help you in that shift. May God give us assertiveness when He wants to use us for His work, but also joy when silence/neutrality is a way to express His generosity towards us and others.

 

[Marathoner]

2 hours ago, Coruscating said:

More than a decade ago, a few things were not going well for me and I didn't know why, until I came across one of those silly lists that people share, with a title like "5 things that are preventing you from being happy". I have some prejudices against this kind of stuff, but the last topic was "Sense of entitlement" and my scornful smile was immediately humbled. Most of my issues had roots on that "sense of entitlement". And then I remembered Joseph, Daniel, Jesus(!!), the prophets, the disciples, the persecuted... and thought "Who am i?! who am i to think that i am owed even the air that I breath? Some people are in jail for being Christians, for doing what is right. Who am I, with this plate of cookies in front of me?"

Christ is faithful to strip away those things as He continues to work in us. There is an extreme which I found myself entrenched in when those words of the Lord which promised that "nothing would be the same" started to unfold.

I was terrified by that plate of cookies. Why? The plate of cookies would destroy me so that, when those cookies were taken away, I would suffer loss all over again. I preferred existence not knowing when the next meal would arrive and from whence it would come. There is something to be said when the trappings of life aren't certain at all. This enabled freedom from the millstone of responsibilities and the horror that descended upon me whenever I found work... obtained housing... and found myself with a stocked kitchen. I would lose it all in cycle that never seemed to end. 

We should be grateful for whatever we receive from the Lord, yes? So, when He placed that proverbial plate of cookies in front of me, I had to overcome the fear that it would vanish. Sometimes, having a plate of cookies is the issue. 

[TheBlade]

On 5/2/2024 at 6:05 AM, Michael37 said:

A few years ago as part of the journaling I sometimes do, I narrowed some historical and recent causes of trouble down to these three things:

1. Unrealistic expectations.

2. Unreasonable demands.

3. Unbearable burdens.

The solutions to these are found in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms, the Beatitudes, and Paul's Epistles.

There is a temptation to blame others for causing trouble and sorrow etc., but pondering my past and praying for guidance, I have realised that actually I have caused all three of those things in the list to occur at times.

The Lord has called me to minister spiritual life and growth through various means, and for many years I have led and participated in groups and teams to that end, as well as ministering to employees with that in mind, and I now understand how unrealistic some of my expectations have been. 

So you do a lot of training, study a lot of courses, gain a fair bit of experience, and then make the mistake of thinking that doing the work of ministry should be plain sailing because you have such a passion for it and have an expectation that because the Lord has called you to it everything will go smoothly. When it doesn't the disappointment can stay with you for years, and the memory of difficult demands, and heavy burdens can lead to thoughts of "Where did I go wrong?"

I've been greatly encouraged of late in the knowledge that rather than plain sailing and smooth running leading to spiritual growth, it is the disasters, disappointments, and difficulties that do.

What's your story? 

 

The other day I was thinking about something in my life and how its always been there and I was telling the lord.. why is this? Asking for deliverance for who ever calls on His name shall be delivered.   You can do anything all things are possible with you and that sweet voice said "I cannot go against your will".  So I can :) sail with the wind go where it leads or fight it. 

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, TheBlade said:

that sweet voice said "I cannot go against your will".

That's why we surrender our will to God, as our Lord Jesus did in Gethsemane.

Php 2:13 CEV  God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.

 

[Neighbor]

On 5/4/2024 at 9:11 AM, Neighbor said:

he does not foreknow nor predestine.

The excerpt above  references Satan's limitations.

Hmm, picking apart my own comment I have to modify it, for in some sense,  it does seem the demons have "awareness" if not foreknowledge, of what is their own fate anyway.

...And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?".... They knew of their condemnation and that a time is set for  accounting; a time specific to  either a heavenly calendar or series of events presumably with signs of the time.